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Giovanni Caboto Park - Our History
Throughout the revitalization of our community park, we have looked both to the future, and to the roots of our community for guidance.
Throughout the following days, a brief history will be compiled in both articles and pictures for those whom do not yet know the rich history of the McCauley Community.
Aug 6, 2005 -
Courtesy of City of Edmonton Archives
The year was 1913...
Edmonton was only in its infancy, recently having built both the High Level Bridge and Alberta Legislature. Yet Patricia Park, later becoming known as Gyro Park, and finally as Giovanni Caboto Park, had already arisen providing a place for the children to enjoy a wholesome day outside, a place for the adults to congregate, and a focal point for the community to grow around.
Patricia Park was a symbol known to many in Edmonton's youth; it was the centre of the very respectable McCauley Community. On Wednesday, August 23, 1922 the Gyro Club officially opened Gyro Park on the grounds of Patricia Square. With this grand opening, which included an auto parade, performances by the Newsboys Band, and a speech by Mayor Duggan of Edmonton, Gyro Park became Edmonton's first supervised park.
Archive Newspaper Article One
Archive Newspaper Article Two
The park was a smashing success that would hold carnivals and community events. In 1925, it was estimated that on average, 1 500 children would use the Gyro Parks in Edmonton daily!
Like most inner-city communities, McCauley slowly degraded during the 1950s until around 1970-1980 when McCauley became a community that was viewed by most Edmontonians as the most dangerous and "undesirable" residential neighbourhood in the city.
Although even at this time in our park's history, great things happened. The park was renamed to Giovanni Caboto Park, a new festival began, Giovanni Caboto Days; replacing the carnivals held by the Gyro Club in the early 1900s that had been absent from the park for so long.
The park, like our community, has a rich, deep history, which we have only seen a glimpse of. With the community in a current state of rebirth, demolishing derelict houses, evicting slum landlords, and cracking down on prostitution and drugs, it seems only fitting that our park should in turn be reborn.
Together our community and its park are growing into something new, something wonderful, and if you would like to help in any way, contact us at info@mccauley.info.
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Help Build Caboto Park - Brick by Brick
The McCauley Community League is selling bricks towards revitalizing Giovanni Caboto Park. You can buy your brick and make your contribution to this very worthwile and essential project for children, youth and families who live in Edmonton's inner city!
Bricks are available from The Italian Centre, Traamici cafe and Zocalo on 95th Street.
Apr 14, 2005 - Choose your brick!
- Bronze Brick ($50)
- Silver Brick ($100)
- Gold Brick ($500)
You can make your contribution at the Italian Centre or at Zocalo on 95th Street, or mail your contribution to the McCauley Community League, 224 - 9624 108A Avenue, Edmonton T5H 1H4.
When making a contribution, please include your name, address, phone and name to be used on plaque in park.
Contributions over $20 will be issued a tax receipt.
Thank you! Grazie!
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Giovanni Caboto Park Project Details -Revised-
With construction about to begin in the spring of 2005, the Giovanni Caboto Park Revitalization Committee has developed two documents to bring greater understanding of what has been happening.
CabotoPark -at- hotmail.com
Nov 4, 2004 - The first document is a Needs Assessment, which details what our park needs to be updated to a respectable park. The second document is a Project Description in which our plans are thoroughly detailed.
If you would like to help out in any way, contact us at CabotoPark@hotmail.com
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Giovanni Caboto Park Revitalization Plans
For over three years the Giovanni Revitalization Committee has gathered information from all parts of the community in attempts to create a park that will represent each part of our multicultural neighbourhood. Using the compiled information from a questionnaire, focus groups, a Visioning Day in the park, community meetings and informal consultations these plans have been created.
Aug 6, 2004 - Construction will begin in early spring of 2005.
For information on how you can get involved in the revitalization of our grand park, contact us at CabotoPark@hotmail.com
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Giovanni Caboto Park Proposed Mural
One of the many aspects of the revitalization of Giovanni Caboto Park includes the creation of a mural depicting the colourful history of the park on the gym wall of the Boys' And Girls' Clubs Of Edmonton building.
Here we have an artistic rendition by Heather Shillinglaw of what the mural should look like. Hope you enjoy!
Aug 5, 2004 - Here is a more detailed version of the artistic rendition of the proposed mural by Heather Shillinglaw.
Left ... Centre ... Right
Construction of our beautiful park will begin in early spring of 2005.
For more information on how you can become a part of this great change, contact us at CabotoPark@hotmail.com
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